Tabletop gaming in VR
May. 28th, 2020 08:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luckykaaI've been playing a couple of online RPGs. One on facebook messenger, another on Zoom
Messenger isn't great, but it's free. Doesn't allow a good view of the table though. Having everyone in a little window is not great.
Zoom is a bit better. At least it can put the person talking on the main window. It's not free though.
I wondered if maybe there was something that would put everyone in the same virtual room and feel a little more interactive. Turns out there are options. Many options.
For a basic table, there's Tabletop simulator. It seems that this allows the user to create a table, and put various counters and tokens on it. There's even a D&D set. Fantastic. Pricey though. £15 isn't a problem but that's something that every player has to be willing to pay.
There's Roll20 of course. Great for battlemaps! I'm not a huge fan of the top down view though and not really too fussed about the tactical strategy. Seems like a great option for people who are.
Something else that I'd like is to be able to see each other. I don't think Tabletop simulator has avatars.
Avatar chat systems do exist though. There's Mozilla Hubs. There's the ancient Second Life, the apparently popular VRChat. There's AltSpace, and a whole load more. I thought I'd give Altspace a go, because it allegedly had a D&D space. Doesn't seem to exist any more.The links go nowhere. Seems usable enough though, even if only for chat purposes, and doesn't need an expensive headset since it works on a standard screen. A more D&D targeted app is RoleplayU. That seems to need a full VR rig though. These seem expensive.
Interactive apps aren't that easy to explore on my own. Anyone want to visit with me?
Messenger isn't great, but it's free. Doesn't allow a good view of the table though. Having everyone in a little window is not great.
Zoom is a bit better. At least it can put the person talking on the main window. It's not free though.
I wondered if maybe there was something that would put everyone in the same virtual room and feel a little more interactive. Turns out there are options. Many options.
For a basic table, there's Tabletop simulator. It seems that this allows the user to create a table, and put various counters and tokens on it. There's even a D&D set. Fantastic. Pricey though. £15 isn't a problem but that's something that every player has to be willing to pay.
There's Roll20 of course. Great for battlemaps! I'm not a huge fan of the top down view though and not really too fussed about the tactical strategy. Seems like a great option for people who are.
Something else that I'd like is to be able to see each other. I don't think Tabletop simulator has avatars.
Avatar chat systems do exist though. There's Mozilla Hubs. There's the ancient Second Life, the apparently popular VRChat. There's AltSpace, and a whole load more. I thought I'd give Altspace a go, because it allegedly had a D&D space. Doesn't seem to exist any more.The links go nowhere. Seems usable enough though, even if only for chat purposes, and doesn't need an expensive headset since it works on a standard screen. A more D&D targeted app is RoleplayU. That seems to need a full VR rig though. These seem expensive.
Interactive apps aren't that easy to explore on my own. Anyone want to visit with me?
